Automatic expansion valve-trap.



P. W. RIESS.

AUTOMATIC EXPANSION VALVE TRAP. APPLIOATION IILED AUG. 9, 1911.

1,036,006. Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

6, s/ ,A I \v WW: jvwe/vvbo bz M /wawi/okw aim I A W 59 Mm flmm FREDERICK WM. BIESS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC EXPANSION VALVE-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 20, 1912.

Application filed August 9, 1911. Serial No. 643,252.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK WM. Rinse, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Expansion Valve-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of steam valves which act automatically as a trap, to discharge the condensed water from steam pipes when the steam has been shut off.

WVith this end in view, I take or construct any seated valve, remove the seat and cap and substitute therefor a seat of highly expansible metal through heat, such as aluminum, antimony, cadmium, zinc, etc, and a cap of non-expansible or nearly so metal, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, etc., for the purpose of automatically causing an opening between cap and seat when condensed water collects in the steam pipe, and closing this opening when the water has been removed. I attain these objects by the mechanism and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1, is a central section of an ordinary steam valve showing my invention in application. Fig. 2, shows my improved valve seat and cap in a modified form. Fig. 3, is a sectional view of the valve spindle and the valve cap.

Referring now to the drawings for a further description of my invention; A, is the casing of the valve with a web I) and a valve seat rest C formed therein.

dis a neck formed on the casing to receive a screw cap (Z in which a screw valve spindle d operates to open or close the valve. Between this spindle d and screw cap cl, is formed a stufling box 0Z in the well known manner.

The valve seat rest C is adapted to receive a valve seat S having a central opening s and a fiat top surface S with a circular beveled edge S This valve seat S is made of a highly expansible metal and fits loosely into the valve-seat rest G.

The valve spindle (Z is provided with a circular rim (Z and on to this rim is loosely fitted the valve cap n by means of the head 72. with groove 11 so that the cap a may he slipped from the valve spindle whenever it is desirable. The underside of the valve cap is flat and has a triangular shaped rim fitting tightly against the beveled edge S I of the valve seat S. This valve cap is made of nearly non-expansible metal and its underside fits exactly or is an exact counterpart of the valve seat S. The beveled edge and triangular rim fitting over said edge are for the purpose of utilizing the expansion and contraction of the valve seat S in two directions, as the same will not only expand in the direction of its height but also in diameter, the beveled edge will recede from the edge as the valve seat contracts and vice versa, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In Fig. 3 the contacting surfaces of the valve seat and cap are in the shape of a frustum of a sphere and any other desirable shape may be given the contacting surfaces of the valve seat and its corresponding part.

The action and operation of my improved automatic expansion trap valve When attached to a steam pipe, is as follows: Assuming that steam has passed through the valve in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. l, the valve is then shut tight by turning the valve spindle d and bringing the cap 40. into contact with the valve seat S. The steam in chamber A of the valve will gradually condense and water will be formed, cooling the valve seat S, which being expanded by the steam at the time of shutting the valve, will then contact and form an opening between the surface S and the cap a, and the live steam back of the condensed water will force the latter through this opening until the water is all disposed of when the live steam again will heat the expansible metal seat S causing the opening formed through the cooling of the seat, to be tightly closed.

It is to be observed that old valves of similar construction as shown in the drawing may easily be fitted with the improved valve seat and valve cap and be made to serve simply as an automatic steam trap; and it is to be noted that in steam plants in use where valves of this nature without my improved valve seat and cap are installed for the purpose of blowing out the con densed water, these valves may instantly be made automatic by fitting the same with my improved expansible valve seat and corresponding valve cap.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve trap having an inlet and outlet,

a valve seat rest formed between the same rection, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A valve trap having an inlet and outlet, a valve seat rest formed between the j same, a seat of expansible metal mounted in said rest, a beveled edge on the seat and a central opening in said seat, a valve cap of nearly non-expansible metal, a triangular shaped rim on said cap adapted to fit over the beveled edge of the seat, and means for operating said cap substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK WM. RIESS.

WVitnesses:

MARGARETHA VoGT, J OHANNAI-I L. MAGFADYEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

